This was just cute. If you like angst or huge drama, this is not the one for you. If you are looking for a small-town story that feels like the comfiest blanket, ENTER.. NOW!

Sophie and Holden were childhood friends and meeting again years later, they enter a marriage of convenience to help them both get ahead in their lives. Little did they know it would actually impact them more than just the titles of wife and husband. Seeing them see through the veil and start actually feeling things was utterly cute.

Overall, I could have used more backstory to feel the second chance nature of the story and more of their falling in love and figuring out their wishes and how to achieve them. But it's still a cute story with lots of fluff. Do I want to live there? OH for suuuure.

3.5 stars

Love small town romance! Holden and Sophie were childhood friends and reunite when Holden comes to help out his grandfather. Loved their chemistry and loved all the side characters too! I'm hoping we will get Livs book and many more from this town.

Always love Adriana Locke’s books! This is the story of Sophie & her childhood friend Holden. Sophie owns a bed and breakfast and owes some money for taxes. Holden is a vet that has come back to town to fill in for his grandfather at his practice. Holden is trying to get his dream job and is in need of a wife. So to help each other out they get married and pay the tax bill. Then the fun begins.

This was such an adorable friend-to-lover/small town/marriage of convenience romance. The heroine and hero have known each other since childhood. They both came off bad relationships and ready to leave everything behind. How do they do that? Why not get married to each other right? Just for convenience – he needs to show the boss he is stable, and she needs money for her business LOL 😊 I really like their easy relationship – load of fun banters and lighthearted moments. The characters are likeable, and the small-town setting was charming. Overall, this was quick, cute, flirty, and entertaining.


3.5 stars

4.25⭐

Like You Love Me is a fast-paced, enjoyable, and joyous small town romance between vet Holden and B&B owner Sophie; and with a captivating, and delightfully cute friends to lovers story and a great cast of characters I was easily and completely engaged throughout. And I look forward to reading more from these characters, and the town of Honey Creek in the future.

Would recommend.

I love small town romances and when I saw Like You Love Me by Adriana Locke was available for reviewing on NetGalley, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read and review it because she certainly knows how to write small town romances. I've read most of Ms. Locke's books and she never disappoints. Holden and Sophie's romance was a bit more than just small town though -- throw in friends-to-lovers and add on a fake marriage and you've got yourself a winning story! Holden was swoony and sweet and Sophie's kind and compassionate heart made her his perfect soulmate. Not a lot of angst in this one--just a fun, flirty, feel good read that will have you smiling and reminiscing. Lots of good "feels" with this one! I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC for NetGalley.

Childhood summer friends Holden and Sofia haven't seen each other in years. When Holden goes to Tennessee to fill in for his grandfather he runs into Sofia Bates. Sofia has taken over her grandmothers B&B and she needs money before she looses it. Holden is up for a huge job in Florida, when he gets a call from the prospective employer they think he is a committed man, which he was until he had to leave Arizona. Holden needs to find a wife ASAP and Sofia needs money. What do the two friends decide do? Get married and quick. This was such a sweet and charming book. I loved Holden and Sofia. I loved the residents of the town, and I love their extended family.

I must say I’m a huge Adriana fan! Every book I read gets better and better. With that said this one doesn’t disappoint. Sophie and Holden’s story was one you just get absorbed in . Marriage of confidence with two childhood friends ? What could go wrong? Maybe falling in. Love for real?

I couldn’t put it down thank you so much netgalley and Adriana locke for my ARC

4 'Follow The Sun' STARS!

Like You Love Me is the first book is Adriana Locke's new Honey Creek series. In it, we follow childhood friends Sophie and Holden who both decide to enter a marriage of convenience with one another in order to get something they both want. Sophie needs money to save her late grandmother's bed and breakfast which was left to her after her passing. Holden agrees to give her the money in exchange for her being his fake wife which he needs in order to get a prestigious veterinary job position in Florida. The rules are clear: once Holden gets the job they can divorce. Not a big deal when they've been friends for years. They trust each other, are comfortable around another, and have fun. Should be easy, right? But, what happens when feelings start to bloom between them? What if what they both thought they wanted isn't really what will make them happy? You'll have to read and find out!

This was first time Adriana Locke and I want to kick myself for not picking up something by her sooner. 'Like You Love Me' was so good! It was a sweet, soft, heart warming story about two childhood friends who reconnect after some years apart and eventually fall in love. This had all the tropes I love. I'm a sucker for friends to lovers and marriage of convenience stories. So the set up for this was right up my alley. Adriana's writing style was easy to read and I found myself instantly immersed in the story and the characters of Honey Creek just jumped off the page. It had a very romance movie feel to it. I could easily see this adapted to screen. It played out just like a film.

I genuinely enjoyed the time I spent in this world with Sophie and Holden. Their friendship and romance stole my heart. I loved seeing them fall in love with each other. I also liked all the side characters we got to meet. Sophie's siblings, Liv and Jobe, were especially interesting. I really hope we get their stories next!

So, if you're like me and love a sweet friends to lovers story - definitely pick this one up!

This is a new series by the author of Dogwood Lane books. In this story we get a glimpse of Haley as she ends up planning the wedding between Holden and Sophie. It is a new series with three siblings in a small town close to Dogwood Lane. In this story we meet Sophie who runs a small bed and breakfast and Holden comes to stay with her when he is let go from his job and loses his fiancee.

He is a vet and in town to spend time with his grandfather while he tries to get his dream job. He and Sophie knew each other as kids and so he enjoys getting to know older Sophie. Sopie is a divorce' who husband stole her money and she has taxes coming up and can't afford them so Holden offers a partner idea to her.

Holden wants his dream job but he needs a wife for the job and so he tries to convince Sophie to marry him. I felt this whole job reason and why she agrees for 5K was a bit on the far fetched side. Other people offer her the money but she won't take it because she did not earn it and so instead a fake marriage is an option, it just was not plausible to me.

This was a slow moving story and very slow burn. It is a fake marriage between two friends but they only saw each other for two days before they get married, after not seeing each other for like ten years. I did like both characters and the writing was enjoyable. I also really loved the side characters like Liz and Jobe, Sophie's siblings. I also loved the quirky characters around town.

I received a free ARC copy of this book from NETGALLERY prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Fake marriage romance is always a fun, entertaining read for me, and ‘Like You Love Me’ was just that. An enjoyable, easy read with wonderful, sweet characters. Small town girl Sophie Bates whose childhood best friend comes to stay from the big city, one thing leads to another and they realise they can help each other achieve their dreams, by getting married. As is always the case though, attraction gets in the way, and things rapidly go pear shaped. Those pesky feelings. Sophie was independent, strong willed and a complete home bird. The exact opposite to big city veterinarian Holden McKenzie, all he wants is the job at a prestigious veterinary practice in Florida, even at the expense of possible true love. Lovely supporting cast, both friends and family. Small town romance works for me, so it was no surprise that I really enjoyed it. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

I have read several books by Adriana Locke and she never fails to deliver on a good story. This is another one. Sophie and Holden are an excellent couple and you really root for them for their HEA. I know this is a series starter and I must say that I cannot wait for Sophie's brother's story. I doubt it is next in line, but it really has the roots for an excellent story!

No problems with this book, it has a good pace, and even though it is an insta love, because they knew each other before it really works this time. 5 stars!

To me this is the perfect romantic story. Yes its predictable and yes its fluffy but sometimes that's exactly what we need!
If you are looking for a lovely sweet and fluffy romance this is the book for you!

Like you love me was a cute and sweet read. I loved both Holden and Sophie. Sophie has grown up in the small town of Honey Creek. Holden spent each summer there visiting his grandparents. He spends his summers with Sophie. Then he stops coming at all. It’s been years since he’s been back but he returns while waiting for a job interview in Florida. Holden and Sophie reconnect. And he comes up with a plan that can help them each out. This was a sweet small town romance. With a hea.

This was my first Adriana Locke book -I know , I know, I've been living under a rock for the last number of years.

What a cute and adorable way to pop my Locke cherry.

Holden and Sophie's story is full of small town sweetness and light.... and gossips!

You knew where this story was going to end up, and there were no big twists or surprises, however there were lots of smiles.

I loved the residents of this town, and the vibe that they all give off. They love their extended family and will protect them to no end.

I really enjoyed this story, and will be going back and reading some of the older stories.

No one does small town romance like Adriana! She always has an amazing mix of characters! You love the secondary characters as much as the main hero and heroine! I’m already invested in this small town and the Bates family!

Sophie and Holden are so cute and this story had me grinning and laughing like a fool! Both Sophie and Holden put love aside and decided to follow their dreams and it’s those dreams that led to each other! Old friends finding more than friendship but when Holden’s dreams lead states away what will become of their newly found roles?

Sophie and Holden were childhood summer friends growing up as Holden visited his grandparents every summer. Now they’re all grown up and Holden is a veterinarian like his grandfather and Sophie runs her grandmother’s B&B.

Holden has applied for his dream job to an organization in Florida, but the director favors employees that have “stability”. Sophie’s tax bill is due and doesn’t have the money as business hasn’t been great and her ex cleaned out her bank accounts. They decide to help each other out by getting married. Temporarily, of course. Just to help each other out. That’s what friends do after all.

Sophie and Holden are sweet and nice. The secondary characters certainly add charm to the story. This is a town where everyone knows everyone and their business and no one locks their doors. You feel like you can visit, pour a glass of lemonade and sit on the front porch for a chat.

Can’t wait for the next book in the series.

I loved this book from start to finish! Sophie and Holden are relationship goals. And Honey Creek is a place I'd love to visit. Such a great small town romance, with quirky side characters and a love story that will have you on the edge of your seat thinking will they or won't they. Great writing by Adriana, she really knows how to write multidimensional characters and towns that will have you wanting to google map them to find out if they are real!
I received an ARC Copy in return for my honest review

Adriana Locke always writes great "feel good" stories!

Like you Love me, was another make you feel good story, no real problems, yes there supposed relationship or marriage was fake, but this gave them the opportunity to fess up to the feelings that they felt deep down. we have a friends to lovers, second chance love. We have small town situations where everyone knows everyone and all your business.

First sentence: "You're late." The accusation is tossed my way before the door closes behind me.

Premise/plot: Sophie and Holden star in new romance novel by Adriana Locke. Holden spent summers with his grandpa, his Pap, which brought him in and out of Sophie's life quite a bit in their growing up years. But now both are fully grown up and experienced. Both have failed relationships behind them, but do they have a happily ever after before them?

Holden wants to get his dream job--in Florida--but his would-be-boss is looking for a family man with a loving, supportive wife. (And to be fair, at the time he first applied, he was technically engaged to be married). Sophie needs money to pay property taxes on her bed-and-breakfast. (It was her grandmother's bed and breakfast.) The two "need" something from the other that a marriage of convenience would provide. But is playing with happily ever after too much of a risk for their hearts? Can they learn to live without each other once more?

My thoughts: I never know whether to start with what I did like or what I didn't like. About the star rating (if you're reading this at GoodReads and can see my rating), I'd rate it two and a half stars if possible--for the completely and totally neutral rating.

What I Didn't Like:

I didn't like the cussing/profanity. This is 100% subjective.
I didn't like the graphic-ness of the smut. It was a little too what-goes-where for me. Again this is 100% subjective. Another person might find it steamy and marvelous. (Not me.)


What I Did Like:

I liked the small town setting and getting to know a few of the town residents. (Her brother and sister. His grandfather. His receptionist. A few others? like the woman who is famous for her pies?)
I liked them as a couple. I wanted them to make it work.
I liked having both perspectives. The narrative is told in alternating chapters.
I liked that once the initial encounter was graphically portrayed all future encounters were non-graphic and occurred off-page. (This isn't always the case.)


What I found humorous:

Granted this is a netgalley review title, but when she's talking about thread count on the sheets--she's sheet shopping--there's a typo:

"And guests will pay premium dollar for the little touches like homecooked meals, nice soaps, and threat counts."

I am guessing people won't pay more to stay at a place where their lives are threatened!!!